On Tuesday, a strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake in one of Tibet’s most sacred cities rocked the Himalayan foothills, killing 95 people and destroying several homes.
According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, the epicentre is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep in Tingri County, which is referred to as the northern gateway to the Everest region.
Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, expressed his profound sadness.
In a message, the Nobel Peace Prize winner stated, “I offer my prayers for those who have lost their lives and extend my wishes for a swift recovery to all who have been injured.”
Rescue workers wade through rubble
Rescuers had to sift through debris to find people who were trapped, according to an AFP report.
Sangji Dangzhi, whose Tingri grocery sustained significant damage, told AFP that the situation was “very serious” and that ambulances were transporting people to hospitals all day long.
“Here the houses are made from dirt so when the earthquake came… lots of houses collapsed,” claimed the 34-year-old.
CCTV footage showed shoppers racing down a store’s aisles as shelves trembled violently, knocking toys and other items to the floor.
Meng Lingkang, a visitor, had reserved a restaurant at the epicentre, but “the buildings had cracked open” when he got to the village of Lhatse, 65 kilometers away.
“Some of the older houses collapsed, and a large part of the buildings made from bricks had cracked open, with big fissures,” the young man, 23, told AFP.
Debris was strewn in front of cafes on the street in videos that AFP geolocated to Lhatse.
According to CCTV, the largest of the 21 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher that have occurred in the so-called Lhasa block since 1950 was the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Mainling in 2017.
The tremors felt in several parts of India, including Bihar, Assam and West Bengal.
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